Bed.



n. STEFFEN, BED.. APPLICATION FILED IAN. 31, 1917.

1,2%,13L Patented om. 30,1917.

INVENTOR ATTORNEY mnnnrcn srEEEEiv, 0E KEAENEY, NEW JERSEY.

BED.

neaaiei.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented oet. 3o', i917.

Application led January 31, 1917. Serial No; 145,746.

To all 'whom z'zf may concern: Y

Be it known that I, DIEDRICH STEFFEN, a citizen of the Unit-ed States, residingat- 43 omer-oy ave., Kearney, in the county of Hudson and State of new Jersey, have invented new and usefulV Improvements in Beds, of which the following is a specication.

This invention relates to beds, the object in view being to provide a form of coupling in which means are/employed for permitting they spring fabric to-be conveniently placed under tension or the fabric tilted or canted whereby restful positions ofthe body of the occupant of the bed may be effected, the latter being oftendesired and sometimes necessary when the bed is used by the sich in hospitals. f

In the drawings forming a part of this specification and in which' likey reference numerals indicate similar yparts throughout the several views Y Figure 1 is a side view of a portion of the bed with one of the sidebars broken away.

F ig. 2 is a. horizontal section through the corner of the bed.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the corner post.k

Iiig. it is a section on' F ig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of the attaching bar of the` spring fabric.

lVith a view to providing a bed which will consist of mating or co-acting elements, relatively associated, whereby the side bars of the bed may be expeditiously separated from the head and foot pieces and the spring fabric tensioned or tilted at the desires of the operator, use is made of substantially identical corner posts l, two of such posts being employed in the construction of the head member A and a corresponding number being employed in the construction of the foot piece or member' B.

Each of these corner posts has shrunk thereon or otherwise suitably secured thereto, a sleeve 2 having integral cylindrical stubs 3 and 4 which are arranged at right angles to one another. The stubs 3 of the corner posts of the head and foot members are alined with each other and these stubs are provided with fiat surfaces 5 which lead to short locking grooves 6 formed in said stubs as clearly shown in Fig. 3. The side of a, portion rails 7 of the bed structure are provided `are associated with or the une of over the flat'surfaces 5. andthen by simply' turning said side vrails in one direction upon the stubs 3, the pins'are extended into the grooves 6 and said side rails are, in this manner, securely connected with the head and foot members. The pins 8 are disposed within the ends of the side rails whereby to permit the stubs 3 to enter said rails as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The pins 8 are disposed at a tangentl to the `stubs with which they are engagedtand it is observed that by 'simply giving the side rails a.r partial turn, the pins may be brought almost immediately on to theiat surfaces 5 and the rails quickly and conveniently separated'from the stubs. The corner posts of each of foot members are connected by endrails 9. These railslareidentical' in construction and each Yis adapted to be fitted at its ends on to the mating alined stubs 4. The said end thevh'ead Vand "f railsare alsol adapted to be revolved or turned upon said stubs andit istherefore desiredto form in each stub, a circumferential groove 10. lVhen the ends of the `rails fitted on the stubs 4, pins 11 may be extended through said rails land through the grooves 10 at a tangentV thereto. In this manner, the end rails are Aefectually kheld against longitudinal movementupon the stubs but are free to be revolved therearound.

As previously described, it is intended that aside from the novel knock-down features, I contemplate providing a bed in which the spring fabric may be tensioned or arranged at an angle if desired, the latter being preferred in many cases, such as when the bed is used in hospitals and it is desired to change the position of the body of the patient or invalid at some particular time. In view thereof, I mount sliding clutch elements 12 upon the stubs 4l. These elements have longitudinal slots 13 therein in which fixed pins 14 upon the stubs il extend. Interposed between the clutch elements 12 and the sleeves 2, are springs 15 which opera-te to yieldingly hold the clutch elements 12 in engagement with the fixed clutch elements 16 in the end rails. The elements 12 are each provided with a circular series of clutch teeth 17 which, under the action of the springs 15 are adapted to engage similar clutch teeth 18 upon the iixed clutch elements 16. The clutch elements 16 are mounted upon the stubs 4 and while permitted to turn thereon, the pins 11V prevent longitudinal movement thereof upon the stubs. i

Fixed to each of the end rails are revolving arms 18 having substantially key holed shaped slots 19. The spring fabric 20"is provided at its ends with bars 21 to which the ends of the fabric are secured. These bars are provided at spaced intervals with substantially cylindrical enlargements 22 which are adapted to be seated inthe corresponding branches of the key holev shaped slots 19. In this manner, it is seen that the bars are held against accidental derangement from the arms 1S, irrespective of the adjustment of the end rails upon the corner posts. ln applying the bars 21, the portions 22 are initially arranged at one side of the arms 18. The bars are then movedin a longitudinal direction through said arms until the portions 22 become seated in their receiving branches of the slots 19. y

'Ehe structure, in its entirety, is simple, strong and durable. VThe side rails may be con eniently taken down as the occasion demandsn and at the Will of the operator, the corner post-s may be quickly disconnected from both the side and the end rails. lVhen it is desired to tension the springs, the end rails are directed away from the end and foot members of the bed. The iixed clutch freely passes over the movable clutch elements and the desired tensioned adjustment of the spring fabric may, in this manner, be very nicely retained. The arrangement of the arms 1S upon the end rails is also such Gopes ci this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the inea-iai as will permit the spring fabric to be canted or tilted as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. rhe ymeanstor shitting each clutch member 12 out of engagement With the respective clutch member 16 embodies a ring 23 surrounding the rail 9 and having studs 2i which extend through holes in said rail into an annular groove 25 in the clutch member 12 as in Fig-2. By grasping the ring 23 the clutch member 12 may be shifted outwardly to permit the rail 12 to be turned.

What is claimed as new is c 1. A bed having tubular end railsmounted for rocking movement, arms fast thereon, a spring fabric connected with said arms, and means vfor holding said rails against rocking movement embodying clutching means housed Within said end rails.

2. A bed structure, comprising .head and Jroot members, each. member including vertical corner posts, side rails connecting the corner posts of the head member With the corner posts of the `foot member, the corner posts of each member having alined integral portions, clutch elementsY mounted thereon, end rails connecting said portions, clutch elements carried by the end rails and coacting With the first clutch elements, arms tixedly mountedfon the end rails, and a spring body between the arms of the end rail of the head member and the arms of the end rail of the Jfoot member.

ln testimony whereof I aiiix mysignature..

DEDRICH STEFFEN.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

